Children's Miracle Network

Ministry Saint Joseph's Children's Hospital

MARIAH URBAN

As an avid basketball player and 6th grade student at Auburndale Elementary, it’s no surprise to find 12-year-old Mariah Urban playing basketball at home with her brothers Ryan and Brett. “We have a basketball court and hoop in the hayloft,” shared Mariah.

But on Friday, January 31, 2003, Mariah lost more than just a game, she nearly lost her life. “The basketball bounced off from a board and rolled onto the top of the hay chute door,” explained Mariah. When she tried to get the ball, she lost her balance and fell through the hay chute, striking her head on the concrete floor below.

Mariah Urban

Initially, her parents, Mary and Doug, were uncertain of her injuries. Although she seemed unhurt, her condition quickly began to worsen, so the family drove the 20 miles to the Trauma Center at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

When they arrived at the Hospital’s emergency department, Mariah’s condition had deteriorated. She was vomiting and had progressed to seizures, an indication of a severe head injury.

The medical staff acted quickly and it was soon determined by a CT scan and through clinical symptoms that she had an epidural bleed in her brain and would need immediate surgery.

“It is one of the most frightening ordeals for any parent,” said Mary. “Later we learned that she was just minutes from death. She had nearly five hours of surgery to remove the epidural hematoma from her brain.”

Mariah’s outcome looked bleak and the trauma physicians prepared her family for the worst. “The surgeon was very skeptical about her recovery the next morning,” said Mary. But Mariah astonished the doctors, nurses and her family with the speed of her recovery.

“She started to interact with us about 2:00 on Sunday morning,” continued Mary. “She used hand signals and nodded her head.”

“Mariah is a true miracle,” said Pam Jochimsen, Pediatric Assistant Nurse Manager at Saint Joseph’s Hospital. “She recovered quickly from a near-fatal incident.”

Her breathing tube was removed on February 3 and the CT scan done the next day indicated that there was minimal brain swelling. Mariah remained in the Trauma Center’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and then Pediatric Unit for about a week before returning home.

Dr. Rebecca Campbell, Marshfield Clinic Neurologist on staff at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, was initially concerned about possible damage to Mariah’s brain, but her concerns quickly diminished, as Mariah appeared to have no memory loss or lack of cognitive ability.

Her recovery continued once she was home and her parents say that she is back to normal. “Her grades at school are very good,” said Doug. “It seems like she has fully recovered.”

Mariah enjoys art, piano, and animals and continues to play basketball. “I believe in the power of prayer,” said Mariah. “Have faith in God and his ability to perform miracles.”

While in the Hospital, Mariah received a card that reflects her experience. “I believe in mystery and miracles and the magic of a new day. I believe in angels and natural wonders and the beauty inside people. I believe in rainbows and happy endings and dreams-come-true.”

Patti Shafto-Carlson
Director of Development - Children's Services
cmn@ministryhealth.org